Apparatus for filling, sewing, and sealing bags



Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14; 1933 I 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 ORS Linco nACundalZ v liobcrl N. Cundall @l'RNEY Novgz, 1937. R, N, UNDALL ETAL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 I f a Big .ATTORN EY Nov. 2, 1937,. R. N; cuNfiALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 By r Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Fil'ed A rii 14, 1953 1 l2 Shegts-Sheet 5 I II I l I INVENTORS Lincoln A. Cunda ll 130% (findall By W ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, less '12 Sheets-Sheet e v INVENTORS Lincoln A. CundalL B Rober'l N. Cundall 5 ATTORNEY 4 Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, 'AND SEALING BAGS- Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 M I I INVENTORS 2 Lincoln A.Cundall Robert M Cundall ATTO R N EY Nov. 2, 1937.

R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS Lincoln A. Cundall Robert N. Cundall by f ATTORNE Nov. 2, 1937. R. N CUNDALL ET AL" ,0 7,

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS I Fil'ed Aprii 14, 19:53 12 Shegts-Sheet 9 INVENTORS Lincoln A. Cundall By Roberl M Cundall ATTO RNE A 1 Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL :1- AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Lincoln A. ll By Haber! N Cundall 54 g ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1937.

R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 INVENTORS L inco/n A. Cundall By Raberl 1V. Cund all W K ATTORN EY Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,447

APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Filed April 14, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 lml im INVENTORS Lincoln A. Cundall fioberl .MCunda ll ATTORNE Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED 'STATES APPARATUS FOR FILLING, SEWING, AND SEALING BAGS Robert N. Cundall, Lackawanna, and Lincoln A. Cundall, Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to Bagpak, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1933, Serial No. 666,114

20 Claims. (Cl. 226-53) Our invention relates to apparatus for filling, sewing and sealing open-mouth bags, such, for example, as paper bags of relatively large size adapted to control 100 lbs. or more of cement or other pulverulent or granular material.

In the co-pending application of Robert N. Cundall Serial No. 640,758, filed Nov. 2, 1932, it is pointed out that to accomplish the filling, sewing and sealing of large size open-mouth bags by 1 hand requires excessive and tedious labor, and

that prior to the invention set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application there has been no satisfactory machine for accomplishing this purpose.

In the apparatus set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application a series of bags to be filled are progressed through a plurality of stations by means of a conveying device operating intermittently. At various stations along the path of the 2.) bags, that is to say, at points where the bags are brought to rest by the conveyor, there are located devices for filling, closing, sewing and sealing the bags, as well as a device for severing the chain of stitches and tape by which the bags 25 are joined as they approach the forward end of the apparatus.

Our present invention has for an object the provision of apparatus for filling, sewing and sealing bags, more especially paper bags adapted :31) to contain large quantities of materials, which shall be simplified in various respects with respect to prior machines and which shall have numerous advantages in construction and operation, as will hereinafter be found to obtain.

Our invention has for further objects the provision of apparatus in which the progress of the bags may be made'continuous and uniform rather than intermittent through at least a considerable portion of the apparatus, to allow for small differences in the time required for the operator to introduce the individual bags into the machine, the provision of means for gusseting of the bags prior to the filling and sewing thereof, thereby eliminating a separate bag-closing station, and the provision of means for automatic actuation of the various filling, sewing, taping and severing devices in accordance with the progress of the bags.

Our invention has for further objects such additional improvements and advantages in con-' struction and detail and in operative results as may hereinafter be found to obtain.

Our invention contemplates the provision of filling means adapted to enter the mouth of a bag to deliver material into the bag and adapted to be withdrawn from the filled bag, in association with means for gripping the bag at the upper and outer (and, it may be gusseted) corners of the bag during the filling operation, said gripping or holding means being movable with respect to each other to permit expanding the mouth of the gripped bag to receive the filling means or spout and to permit drawing the mouth of the bag closed and taut after it has been filled.

When the bags are filled they are caused to be progressed at a uniform rate past devices adapted to sew and seal the bag mouths and to sever the stitches and tape connecting the several bags, and these devices are caused to operate in accordance with the actual passage or positions of the bags passing along the conveyor.

Our invention further contemplates the provision of an intermittently and automatically operated device for transferring'the filled bags into the grip of a continuous conveying device which carries the bags past the several devices for sewing the bag mouth, severing the stitches, applying adhesive tape over the sewed bag mouth and severing the tape.

Our invention also comprises the provision of means located in the. path of the bags at a subsequent point for applying pressure to the sewed, taped and severed bags to insure adherof the various units forming parts of the com- 1 pleted mechanism, which improvements will ,be described more fully hereinbelow.

Certain features of the invention herein disclosed and claimed are likewisedisclosed but not claimed in the copending application of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial Number 680,538, filed July 15, 1933, Apparatus for closing bags. I

In order that our invention may clearly be set forth and understood, we now describe, with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification, a preferred form and manner in which our invention may be-embodied and operated. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of a machine for filling, sewing and sealing :open-mouth bags, constructed in accordance with our invention;

a i Fig. 2 is an end-elevational view ofthe appa- Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing parts of the apparatus in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in. the preceding figures, taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side-elevationai view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the opposite side of the same;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in preceding figures, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 8, taken on the line 99 of Fig, 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, taken on the line l0l0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10, taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 10; 1

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, taken on the line l2--l2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 3, taken on the line l3i3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shownin Fig. 13, taken on the line "-14 of Fig. 13; i

Fig. .15 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 13 and 14, taken on the line I5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line ii-J'B of Fig. 1; a

Figs. 17 and 18 are vertical sectional views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 16, taken on the lines l|--l'| and l8,l8, respectively, of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line Iii-l3 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 19, taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a more or less diagrammatic view, partly in elevation, of portions of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 5 and '7 and illustratingelectrical connections therefor; and

Figs. 22 and 23 are sectional views of a portion 'of the apparatus shown in Figs. 16 and 18, taken on the lines 2 222 and 23-43, respectively, of Fig. 18.

Similar characters of reference designate the same or similar parts in eachof the several views of the drawings.

The apparatus as a whole The bags to be filled, sewed and sealed are introduced one at a time into the apparatus at a station A, where the bags are filled with a predetermined amount of materiaLthe mouth of the bag being filled at each operation being firmly held by apparatus associated with the filling station A, and to be described in detail hereinbelow.

The mouth of the filled bag is then firmly gripped by an intermittently operated conveyor B and the bag is transferred to a continuously moving conveyor C to'be sewed and sealed. As the bag passes along the conveyor 0, the mouth of which have been shown in the drawings.

the bag passes in sequence past a sewing machine D, a shear E, a tape-applying device F, a second shear E, a tape-squeezing device G and out of the machine, the progress of the bag or bags being from right to left through the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

Thus, each bag is first filled, then sewed, the stitching connecting the sewed bag to the sewing machine or the following bag is then severed,

adhesive tape is applied over the sewed bag mouth, the following tape is then severed, and finally pressure is applied to the bag closure to insure adherence of the tape to the bag mouth.

The arrangement and construction of the machine is such that the bags are filled and transferred to the continuous conveyor C as fast as they are filled or at the will of the operator, and the mechanism for sewing and taping the bag, as well as the shears for cutting the stitching and the tape, are caused to be actuated by the bags themselves as they pass along the conveyor C, the exact spacing of the bags along the conveyor C being immaterial.

Driving mechanism and conveyors A motor (not shown), through a belt 30 and a pulley 3|, drives a high-speed shaft 32. The shaft 32 drives a shaft 33 through a speed reducer 34 whiie the shaft 33 drives a shaft 35 through a sprocket chain 36. turn drives a shaft 31 through a sprocket chain 38, which shaft 31 is connected by bevel gearing 33 to a shaft 40 extending lengthwise of the machine. The shaft 35 also drives a shaft 41 through a sprocket chain 42, which shaft 4| carries a pulley 43 over which passes a belt 44.

The shaft 4| through a sprocket chain 45 drives an overhead shaft 46 which is connected by bevel gearing 41 to a pair of vertical shafts 48 which shafts 48 may carry, as shown, a plurality of flanged pulleys 49 driving endless belts 50.

The other end of the belt 44 passes over a pulley 52, and the upper span of the belt 44 is supported upon a plurality of rollers 53, only a few of Similarly, the belts 50 travel over the pulleys 49 and a corresponding number of pulleys 54, and the inner spans of the belts 50 are supported laterally by rollers 55. The belts 50 move in unison with the belt 44 and provide lateral support for the filled bags travelling on the belt 44, but may be omitted if. desired.

The apparatus in general is supported upon a frame comprising principally two main angles 56 and vertical supporting members 51, together with suitable lateral supports and other structural members, the details of which do not require description.

The mouths of the bags passing along the con-.

veyor C are gripped between a pair of belts or. leather-faced chains 80 extending between pairs; of sprockets GI and 62 mounted on vertical shafts 63 and 64 that are supported upon supports 655 The shaft 35 in' of the plates 12 is flexibly biased toward the inner length of the corresponding chain 60 by means ofa plurality of compression springs 15; A suitable number of these biased plates 12. are provided along the length of the belts or chains 60 to provide sufficient pressure upon the belts or chains to firmly hold themout'hs of the'bags passing through the conveyor C. While two of these plates 12 are shown in Fig. 4, they have been removed in Figs. 1 and 3 for the sake of clarity. Fig. 12, however, shows the details of the plates 12 and their mountings.

The intermittent conveyor B comprises a pa of endless belts or leather-faced chains extending between pairs of sprockets 8| and 82 mounted on swinging members 83. The sprockets 8| are keyed to vertical shafts 84 mounted somewhat forward of the shafts 64 on a support and are connected together by means of gears 86. The forward ends ,of the swinging members 83 are pivotally mounted on the shafts 84.

The chains 80 are driven from one of the shafts 64 through a sprocket 81, a chain 88, a sprocket 89 freely mounted on one of the shafts 84 and a clutch 90. The sprocket 89 drives the shafts 84 only when the clutch is engaged, which occurs when a cam 9I on a shaft 92 driven through a one-revolution clutch 93 by the shaft 40 acts through a cam rod 94, to move a lever which is keyed to a shaft 96 carrying a bifurcated clutch lever 91.

The upper ends of the shafts 64 and 84, which carry the sprockets 81 and 89, are journaled in the ends of a supporting member 99 which also serves to carry the shaft 96.

The rear ends of the swinging members 83 are pivotally connected by links IM to the opposite ends of a swinging link I02 keyed to a vertical shaft I03 journaled in a member I04 attached to one of the main frame angles 56. Also keyed to the shaft I03 is a lever I05 pivotally connected by means of a rod I06 to a cam lever I01 pivotally mounted at the opposite end to one of a pair of vertical rods I08 and carrying a cam roller I09 adapted to bear against the face of a cam IIO. A spring H2 is provided to hold the cam roller I09 against the cam I I0.

The cam H0 is mounted on a vertical shaft I I3 which is driven by the shaft 92 through bevel gears II4, a shaft II5, a gear II6, agear II1 freely mounted on the shaft H3, and a one-revolution clutch H8. The number of teeth of the gear I I6,is twice that of the gear H1, and the arrangement is such that during one-half revolution of the shaft 92 the shaft H3 and cam II9 are stationary, while during the next half-revolution of the shaft 92, the shaft H3 and cam IIO make one full revolution, swinging the chains 80 from their open position (as shown in Fig. 4) into their closed position (as shown in Fig. 3) and, after a short interval, back into the open position of Fig. 4. 4

The time allowed to elapse while the swinging chains 80 are in their closed position is suflicient to allow the chains 80 to carry a bag forward from the filling station A intothe grip of the chains 60.

The purpose of theclutch 93 is to permit relatively rapid rotation of the cam II 0, thereby shortening the time necessary to swing the cha ns 80, without requiring an impractically steep pitch on the surface of the cam I I0. With the arrangement shown, a moderate pitch of the cam IIO effects a rapid swinging movement of :the chains The cam 9| is so positioned and designed that the belts or chains 80 rotate only when they are in their closed position as shown in Fig. 3'.

The chains 80 are provided with plates 12 and springs 15 similar to those provided for the chains 60. e

' Bag filling mechanism" It will be'observed from inspection of "Figs. 1,

3 and 4 that one of the angles 56 terminates at the standard 66 whereas the other angle 56 extends a considerable distance farther toward the. rear, and that the vertical rods I08 are mounted on the longer angle 56 at points lying to the rear of the standard 66.

.The bag filling mechanism is mountedupon the rods I08, the space below and on one side of the same being unobstructed except by the swinging angles 83 and the chains 80 mounted thereon.

Pivotally mounted on the rods I08 and supported by collars I20 keyed to the latter are a pair of sleeves I2I having extension arms I22- provided" with cutawayportions I23. Pivoted to each of the arms I22 at I24 is a gripping lever I25, the outer end surface of which is adapted to cooperate with a vertical surface I26 of the corresponding arm I22 lying directly above the intersection line of the chains 80 to grip an outer end of the mouth of a bag.

When no bag is inserted in the cutaway portions or mouths I23 of the arms I22, the gripping levers I25 are supported bymeans of links I21,

levers I28 pivoted to the arms I22 at points I29 r and pivoted latch members I30 operated by solenoids I3I. As shown in Fig. 21, when the solenoids I 3I are de-energized, the latch members I30 serve to uphold the levers I28 and the gripping levers I25.

Extending across the mouths I23 along the lines of intersection-of the gripping levers I25 and the surfaces I26, are a pair of feelers I35, pivotally mounted on the arms I22 at points I36 and carrying mercury switches I31. As shown in Fig. 21,

when no bag is inserted in the gripping mechanism, the feelers I35 occupy a substantially horizontal position across the mouths of the gripping arms I22 and the switches I31 are open. When,

however, the end of the mouth of a bag is inserted in the mouth of one of the gripper arms I22, the free end of the correspondingfeeler I35 is raised,

. tilting and closing the corresponding switch I31.

As shown in Fig. 21, the two switches I31 and the two solenoids I3I are all connected in series to a source I38 of electric current. Consequenh 1y when both of the outer ends of a bag mouth have been inserted in the mouths I23 of the arms I22, the solenoids I3Iare energized, and the levers I25 fall and grip the ends of the bag mouth against the surfaces I26.

At the same time, the electric current from the source I38 energizesa solenoid I40 also located in series with the switches I31, withdrawing the upper end of a'lever I4I out ofthe path of a dog I42 onthe clutch 93 and permitting the dog I42 and the shaft 92 to rotate with the shaft 40 for one revolution. At the end of one revolution of the shafts 92 and 40, the solenoid I40 will have been de-energized, as will be explained hereinbelow, and'the upper end of the lever I4I will engage the dog I42, opening the clutch 93 and stopping the shaft 92.

The lever I is mounted upon .a short shaft I45 journaled in bearings I46 mounted on a lines in Fig. 21. The solenoid I may conveniently be mounted, as shown, on a bracket I50 attached to the bracket I01. 1

Keyed to the shafts I20 area pair of levers I55 having connecting pins I50 extending through slots I51 in a cross bar I50. The shaft 02 is provided with a cam device I00 having a cam rod IOI passing through the bar I50 and terminating in an adjustable-head I02. Once in every revolution of the shaft 02 the head I02 descends, lowering the levers I55 and raising the levers I25 to release the bag. 'As the head. I02 rises again, the

levers I25 are retained in their uppermost position by means of the latches I00. I

The bag suspended from the arms I22 is filled from asuitabie scale device (not shown) through a hopper I located between the arms I22. The hopper I10 is connected by a member "I to sleeves I12 slidably mounted upon the rods I00, the whole being supported by links I10 from levers I10 keyed to a shaft I15 iournaled inbearings I10 mounted upon the rods I00. A lever I 11 also keyed to the shaft I15 has a slot I10 for adjustably and pivotally connecting the lever I11 to a cam rod I10 which is vertically reciprocated by a cam I00 on the shaft 02. The hopper I10 is provided with a spout IOI having an elongated V-shaped open end provided with guides I02 and a narrow end member I00 for facilitating introduction of the spout into the mouth of a bag suspended from the arms I22.

At the start of the cycle of operations, that is to say, at the time the empty bag is inserted into the machine, the lower edge of the spout IOI lies a little below the upper edge of the normal position of the bag mouth, and penetrates. into the mouth of the bag sufllciently to facilitate further entry at a later time.

In each revolution of the shaft 02, the cam I00 causes the spout I8I to descend further into the mouth of the bag a sufficient distance to bring the opening at the lower end of the spout IOI completely within the mouth of the bag, where it remains for a sumcient time to permit the desired amount of material to flow into the bag. Further rotation of the shaft 02 then causesthe spout II to rise above the level of the top of the bag, clearing the bag and permitting the bag to be moved away laterally. In the last portion of the cycle of rotation of the shaft 02, the spout IOI is returned to its-original position somewhat below its uppermost position in the cycle.

The scale device may be of any suitable type, and means may readily be provided for automatically tripping the scale device to discharge material through the hopper I10 as soon as the spout IOI has descended a suflicient distance into the mouth of the bag.

It is desirable to have the bag mouth straight and taut at the time it is delivered to the chains 00 of the conveyor 0; but provision must be made for opening the mouth of the bag sufliciently to permit insertion of the spout IOI.

For this purpose, I provide a cam I00 on the shaft 02, which acts through an arm IOI and a lever I02 to turn a shaft I03, the ends of which are supported in horizontally tapered slots I00 in lugs I05 on the arms I 22. The inner ends of thelugs I05 are provided with raised portions I00 and are normally opposed by similar raised portions I01 on the inner ends of collars I08 keyei to the shaft I00;

bracket l01 attached to two of the frame uprishts 01, and has a stop I00 and a springv I00 which serves to bias it toward theposition shown in full faces of the collars I00 oppose those of the lugs I05, thus forcing the arms I22 farther apart and tightening and closing the mouth of the bag suspended therefrom.

The outward position of one of the arms I 22 is shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the other arm I22 is similarly moved by the cam I00.

Operating sequence of baa-filling mechanism and intermittent feeding conveyor 1. Prior to the introduction of a bag into the machine, the chains 00 are stationary and in their open position, as shown in Fig. 4. The chains 00, of course, move continuously, but due to the fact that the clutch 00 is disengaged, the chains 00 do not move at this time. .The

gripping levers I25 are raised, the switches I01 being now open and the solenoids IOI and the solenoid I00 being de-energized.- The lever IOI obstructsthe dog I02 of the clutch 03 and the shaft 02 is therefore stationary. The spout IOI is in its initial position, a little below its uppermost position in the cycle, as described above, and. the arms I22 are in their farthest separated positions.

2. The operator introduces the preferably gusseted ends of the mouth of an empty bag into the mouths I of the arms I 22, raising the feelers I35 and closing the switches I01, thus energizing the solenoids IOI, and permitting the levers I to drop and grip the ends of the mouth of the bag. At the same time, the solenoid I 00 is energized, drawing the lever I out of the path of the dog I02 and starting the shaft 02. In thus introducing the bag, the operator can without difficulty open the upper edge of the ,bag mouth enough to bring the tip of the spout IOI slightly into the mouth of the bag. i

3. As the shaft 02 rotates, the cam I00 lowers the hopper I10 and the spout IOI descends until the open end of the same lies completely within the mouth of the bag. At the same time, the cam I00 causes the arms I22 to move inwardly, opening the bag to accommodate the spout IOI.

4. The spout IOI being fully inserted in the mouth of the bag, the operator, or suitable automatic mechanism which may be provided for this purpose, releases the trip lever ofthe scale mechanism (not shown) and discharges a predetermined amount of material through the hopper I10 and the spout IOI into the bag.

5. When the bag is full, furtherrotation of the shaft 02, through the cams I00 and I00, causes the spout IOI to rise clear of the bag and the arms I22 to move outward.

6. During the first one-half revolution of theuntil they meet and grip the bag mouth, and

retaining them in this position for a time.

'7. The shaft 02 then acts through the cam I00 and the rod I" to raise the levers I25, releasing the bag mouth which is now gripped between the chains 80. At the same time, the solenoids I3I are de-energized, permitting the latches I30 to retain the arms I25 in their upper positions, and the solenoid I40 is also de-energized, permitting the lever I to return under the influence of the spring I43 to the full line position of Fig. 21, where it awaits the dog I42 of the clutch 93.

8. Further rotation of the shaft 92 acts through the cam 9| and the arm 94 to engage the clutch 00, driving the chains 80 in synchronism with the chains 60 and moving the filled bag into the conveyor C. v

9. When the entire mouth of the bag has entered the grip of the chains 60, the cam 9| disengages the clutch 90, stopping the chains 80, and at about the same time the cam IIO causes the chains 80 to return to their outward or separated position, as shown in Fig. 4, while the spout I8l, which has remained stationary in its uppermost position after being lifted to clear the filled bag, descends a short distance to its initial position.

10. As soon as the chains 80 return to the position of Fig. 4, the dog I42 engages the end of the lever MI and the shaft 92 stops, having completed one revolution. The cam H has also completed one revolution, and will not start again until the shaft 92 has been re-started and has completed one-half revolution.

The bag has now entered the conveyor C and approaches the sewing machine D.

Sewing machine and shear for stitching As the bag moves forward along the conveyor C, the mouth of the bag is sewed by a sewing head 200, preferably of the type set forth and claimed in the patent issued to Robert N. Cundall, No.1,963,652, dated June 19, 1934,.and pivotally mounted in the manner set forth in the aforesaid copending application of Robert N. Cundall, Serial No. 640,758, filed November 2, 1932.

While, in the latter application, the sewing head was mounted upon a carriage which was caused to traverse the mouth of a stationary bag, whereas in the present instance the sewing head 200 is pivotally mounted upon a stationary bracket 20I and is traversed by the moving bag, the advantages of the pivotal mounting, which allows the throat portion 202 of the sewing head 200 to move with the bag as each stitch is made and to return to position for another stitch, are equally desirable in the present instance.

The sewing head 200 is provided with a sup porting arm 203, the upper and outer end of which is fastened to one end of a horizontal cantilever shaft 204 journaled in a sleeve 205 forming a part of the bracket 20I, which is attached to one of the angles 56. The shaft 204 is in axial alignment with the drive shaft 206 of the sewing head 200, which is preferably located as close to a central axis of gravity of the sewing head 200 as possible.

Additional lateral support for the sewing head 200 is provided in a roller 201, mounted on lower part of the sewing head 200. A spring M5 is provided for biasing the sewing head 200 toward a vertical position.

The drive shaft 206 of the sewing head .200 carries a spur gear 230 adapted'to mesh with a gear 23I mounted on a shaft 232 joumaled in a lug 233 forming a part of the support 20I and. carrying a bevel gear 234 which meshes with another bevel gear 235 mounted on a high speed shaft 236 and driven by the shaft 236 through a clutch 231. The shaft 236 is journaled near one end in a bearing 238 forming a part of the bracket 20I and at the other end in a bearing 239 shown in Fig. 2 and is driven from the motor shaft 32 by means of a sprocket chain 240.

Freely mounted on the end 'of the shaft 236 and held at a fixed distance from the bracket 20I by a head 24I on the end of the shaft 236 is a bell-crank 242, carrying a. beveled pin 243, and the outer end of one arm of which is connected by a rod 244 to a solenoid 245; Also freely mounted upon the shaft 236 is a lever 246'carrying a beveled pin 241 adapted to engage the pin 243, and the free end of which is connected by a rod 248 to one of the angles'56. Normally, that is to say, when the solenoid 245 is not energized, the pins 243 and 241, the bell-crank 242 and the lever 246 occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 11,

- When the solenoid 245 is engaged, however, the resultant movement of the crank 242 causes the pins 243 and 241 to engage, forcing the lever 246 toward the gear 235 and engaging the clutch 231, thus causing the gear 235 to rotate with the shaft 236 and driving the sewing machine 200. The means by which the bags moving along the conveyor C are caused to energize the solenoid 245 will be described hereinbelow in connection with the shearing mechanism for the stitching.

As each bag leaves the sewing machine 200 it is followed by a chain of stitching connecting it to the sewing machine 200, and it may be, to the next following bag. The purpose of the shear E is to sever this chain of stitching a short distance back of the rear end of the bag mouth.

Pivotally mounted by means of a vertical pin 260 upon a bracket 26I attached to one of the angles 56 is a member 262 having a sleeve 263 in which is journaled a shaft 264 having a pulley 265 at one end and a circular shear blade 266 at the other. The shaft 264 is driven from a pulley 261 on the high-speed shaft 236 by means of a belt 268 passing over the pulley 265 and over an idler pulley 269 mounted on one ,end of a lever 210 pivotally connected at 2" to the bracket 26L The other end of the lever 210 is biased downward by means of a tension spring 212, one end of which is fastened to a pin 213 set in the bracket 26I.

The member 262 is connected by means of a fastener 215 to one end of a tension spring 216, the other end of which is fastened to an upright 211 mounted on the angle 56 opposite to that upon which the bracket 2! is mounted. The spring 216 biases the member toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, in which position it engages a stop 218 onthe end of the bracket 26!.

Attached to the member 262 is a more or less U-shaped bar 280 having an adjusting sleeve 20I and carrying at its lower end a head 282 which is so positioned as to be engaged by the free end of a bent feeler rod 283, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted 'on a bracket 284 secured to one of the angles 56 and the forward end of which lies across the path of the upper end of the bags passing along the conveyor C.

The construction is such that, as a bag approaches the sewing machine 288', it strikes the feeler rod 283, which moves out of the path oi. the bag, and, through engagement with the head 282 of the bar 288, also swings the member 282 against the pull of the spring 218 into thebroken line position of Fig. 14, in which the shear blade 288 lies on one side of the path of the mouth of the bag emerging from the sewing machine 288.

As the sewed bag moves forward, the rear end of the bag at length passes the end of the feeler rod 283. The spring 218 then returns the member 282 to the full-line position of Fig. 14, the rotating shear blade 288 traversing and severing the chain of stitches a short distance behind the rear end of the bag mouth as it returns.

Pivotally mounted at 288 upon a bracket 285 secured to one of the angles 58 is a lever 288. One end of the lever 288 carries a normally open mercury switch 281, while the other end carries an adjustable U-shaped bar 288 and is flexibly biased toward a stop 288 by means of a tension spring 288.

The vertical portion of the bar 288 carries a plate 28l adapted to engage the bar 288, raising the u per end of the lever 288 and tilting and closing the mercury switch 281, when a bag strikes and moves the feeler arm 283.

The mercury switch 281 controls the energization of the solenoid-285, which in turn controls the engagement of the clutch 231. Thus, when a bag strikes the feeler arm 283, which it does as it approaches the sewing machine 288, the solenoid 285 is energized, and the sewing machine 288 operates, stitching the mouth of the bag. The sewing machine 288 continues to operate until the rear end of the bag passes the free end of the feeler bar 283, when the switch 281 opens, the solenoid 245 is de-energized, and the clutch 231 is disengaged, this taking place just at the time the shear blade 288 severs the chain of stitches following the bag.

The mouth of the bag having been sewed and the chain of stitching severed,'the bag moves forward to the tape-applying device F.

Tape-applying mechanism After the bag passes the shear E and progresses forward along the conveyor C, the mouth of the bag being in the grip of the chains 88, it encounters a tape-applying mechanism F which comprises principally a pair of driven rollers 388 v and 388' located opposite each other at a point just below the top of the bag.

The roller 388 is keyed to a short vertical shaft 38l journaled in a lug 382 having aside extension 383 rigidly fastened by means of suitable fastening devices 385 to the rear face 381 of a supporting bridge 388 and carrying a spur gear 3l8. The roller 388' is keyed to a vertical shaft 38l' journaled in a lug 382 having a side extension 383' provided with slots 388 and slidably held'against the rear face 381 of the bridge 388 by means of fasteners 385' extending through the slots 388.

As will be observed from inspection of Fig. 18, the adjacent surface,381 of the bridge support 388 is provided with a groove 3 adapted t ceive and guide the extension 383'. At one outer end of the groove 3 there is: provided a lug 3l2 carrying an adjustable member 3I3. A compression spring 3 is located between the outer end of the extension 383' and the member H3 and serves to force the lug 382' toward the lug 382. The rollers 388 and 388' are, however, prevented from actually meeting under the influence of the spring 3 by means of an adjustable stop comprising a set screw 3l5, the purpose of which will be made clear hereinbelow.

The shaft38l carries a spur gear 3l8' which meshes with the gear 3" and also carries a sprocket 3l8 driven by a chain 3", as will be explained hereinbelow. at such speed that the peripheral speed of the rollers 388, 388' corresponds to the linear speed of the chains 88.

Tape is applied to the mouth of the bag approaching the rollers 388, 388' by; means of a tapered guide 328, the forward end of whichls located immediately behind the rollers 388, 388' and is relatively narrow and deep as shown in Fig. 22, whereas the rear end of the guide 328 is relatively shallow and wide. The guide 328 I serves to receive flat tape from a roller 32l and to fold the sides of the tape over the sewed mouth of the bag just prior to the point at which the mouth of the bag traverses the rollers 388, 388.

The forward end of the guide 328 is conveniently supported by means of a threaded supporting member 322 carrying an adjusting nut 323 and passing through a slot 328 in therear of the bridge support 388. A compression spring 325 is also provided to assist in maintaining the guide 328 in position. The rear end of the guide 328 is suitably supported by means of a threaded member 328, a nut 321 and a spring 328 from a supporting arm 329 extending laterally from a collar 338 mounted on a vertical supporting rod 33l which carries a roll 332 of tape.

The tape web 333 passes from the roll 332 around a roller 338, and over a glue-applying roller 335, a portion of which is immersed in a bath 338 of glue or other adhesive material carried in a trough 331 mounted upon a standard 338. The web 333 then passes under the roller 32l, its under surface having been coated with adhesive material transferred to it from the bath 338 by the roller 335 and into the guide 328. As the web 333 passes through the guide 328 the outer sides of the web 333 are folded downwardly over the sewed mouth of the bag.

It will be observed that the outer surface of the rollers 388, 388' are knurled or otherwise roughened. The setting of the stop M5 is such that the rollers 388 and 388 are separated even at their closest point of approach to each other by a, space greater than the thickness of the folded tape, so that the rotating surfaces of the rollers 388 and 388', acting upon the tape alone in the absence of a bag, do not cause tape to be from the above, that the rollers 388 and 388' exert a-yieldingbut firm pressure upon the outer sides of the tape surrounding the mouth of the bag, thus applying the tape to the bag mouth in an eflicient manner.

Where a so-called snake-stitch or other reinforcing for the stitching of the bag mouth has been provided by the sewing machine 288 as explained in the aforesaid patent to Robert N. Cundall, No. 1,963,652, or otherwise, the roller 300, 300' may, as shown, he provided as shown with rooves 340 so located as to accommodate the stitching and reinforcement of the same which has been applied to the mouth of the bag and to prevent the pressure of the rollers 30!), 300' from being harmfully exerted upon the same.

The roller 335 may be provided, as shown, with a scraper 34! adJustably mounted by means of a screw 342 and a. spring 343 above the trough 33'! in such manner as to control the amount of glue or other adhesive which adheres to the roll 335 and is transferred in part to the tape web 333.

Tape-sheanng mechanism followed indefinitely by tape from the roller 332 unless means were provided for severing this following tape. Such means comprises the shear E which may be substantially identical with the shear E previously described, except that in this instance it performs no other function than to sever the tape at a point just behind the rear end of the moving bag.

The shear E comprises a member 350 pivotally mounted by means of a vertical pin 35! on a bracket 352 attached to one of the main angles 56 and carries a rotating shear blade 353 and a pulley 354 which are driven by means of a belt 355 from a pulley 36'! on the shaft 236. An idler pulley 356 is provided which is mounted similarly to the idler pulley 269 of the shear E.

The member 350 is normally biased against a stop 351 on the bracket 352 by means of a spring 358 extending from the member 350 to a vertical rod 359 secured to one of the anglesl56. In this position, the shear blade 353 lies across the path of the mouth of the bag and the following tape. The blade 353 is, however, moved out of the path of an approaching bag by means of a feeler bar 360 similar to the feeler bar 283 of the shear E and mounted on a bracket 36! secured to one of the angles 56. When the mouth of a bag strikes the feeler bar 360 the latter moves out of the path of the bag, forcing the head 362 of a rod 363 attached to the member 350 to one side against the action of the spring 358 and into such position that the blade 353 is withdrawn from the path of the bag.

When the rear end of the bag passes the free end of the ieeler bar 360 the spring 358 again returns the member 350 to engagement with the stop 35! and causes the rotating shear blade 353 to traverse and sever the tape following the bag at a short distance behind the rear end of the mouth of the bag. As has been explained hereinabove, the design of the rollers 300. 300' is such that as soon as the shear blade 353 severs the tape, withdrawal of tape from the roll 332 is interrupted until such time as another bag enters the tape-applying mechanism F.

Tape-squeezing mechanism In order to insure firm adhesion of the tape to the sewed mouth of the bag the latter is next caused to traverse the tape-squeezing mechanism G. This mechanism comprises in part a pair of grooved rollers 380 keyed to vertical shafts 38! mounted on bearings382 forming part'of a bracket 383 secured to one of the angles 56. The shafts 38! are provided with sprockets 384 driven by means of a chain 385 from a sprocket-386 located on one of the vertical shafts 63 which serve to drive the chains 60.

Thebracket 383is provided with an extension 38! located between the bearings 382 on the shaft 38! and carrying a vertical shaft 338 upon which are mounted supporting arms 399 carrying sleeves 39! located opposite the bearings 382. Within the sleeves 39! are journaled vertical shafts 392 upon which are mounted grooved rollers 393 located opposite to the rollers 380.

The bearings 382 and the sleeves 39'! are provided with lugs 394 and 395, respectively, through each set of which passes a rod 396 carrying a compression spring 391located between the lug 395 and the head 398 of the rod 396.

The springs 39'! act upon the lugs 395, forcing the rollers 393 firmly against the rollers 389 which oppose them. As the points of engagement of the rollers 380 and the rollers 393 are located directly above the line of travel of the mouth of the bag, the taped portion of the bag mouth lying above the chains 60 traverses the rollers 380 and 393 and is subjected to the considerable pressure exerted by the springs 39'! which insures that the tape is firmly applied to the mouth of the bag.

The rollers 393 are driven by means of gears 399 mounted on the shafts 392 and adapted to mesh with gears 400 mounted on the shafts 38!. The teeth of the gears 399 and 400 are cut sufllciently deep to maintain these gears in mesh with each other even when the shafts 392 are laterally displaced a short distance by the passage of a bag mouth between the rollers 38!] and 393.

' Upon the rear shaft 392 there is keyed a sprocket 402 which is in engagement with the sprocket chain 3!! which drives the rollers 300,

The arrangement of the drive is such that the peripheral speed of the rollers 380 and 393 corresponds exactly to the linear travel of the mouth of the bag lying in the grip of the chains 60.

The bag having been filled and sewed, the stitching and tape following the bag having been severed, and pressure having been applied to the mouth of the bag to insure adherence of the tape thereto, the bag is now ready to be delivered out of the machine and passes forward to that portion of the conveyor C lying forward of the belts 50, where it is removed by an operator.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, while our invention has been described and set forth hereinabove by way of exemplification, with reference to a'particular embodiment thereof, our invention is not limited to the specific details of such embodiment 'or exemplification, but may variously be embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

We claim:

1. In combination, a device for filling openmouth bags, a continuously moving conveyor arranged to advance the filled bags in upright position from adjacent said filling device through a plurality of stations, devices at said stations for stitching the mouths of the bags and taping the mouths to seal the same and the stitch holes formed by the stitching operation, and means for transferring the filled bags from said filling device to said continuously moving conveyor, said means operating to present the mouths of the filled bags in collapsed form to be stitched'and taped and said conveyor and said meansbeing so positioned with respect to each other that the collapsed conditonof the mouthof each bag is simultaneously maintained by both said conveyor and said means during a portion of the operation of said means, said means operating at the speed of the conveyor during the time when the bag is contacted by said conveyor and said means.

2. In combination, means for filling a bag with a predeterminedamount of material comprising a filling spout to be inserted into the open mouth 01' the bag, means for suspending the bag in position to be filled by said filling means comprising grippers, means for causing said grippers to approach whereby the mouth of the bag is held open to receive said spout and to spread whereby the mouth of the bag is collapsed after said spout is withdrawn, an intermittent conveyor adapted to engage the bag and maintain its mouth in collapsed condition aiter it has been filled, and timed means for releasing said suspending means and actuatingsald conveyor to carry the filled bag away from said filling means.

, 3K In combination, means for filling a bag with a predetermined amount of material comprising a fillingspout to be inserted into the open mouth of the bag, means for suspending the bag in position to be filled by said filling means comprising grippers, means for causing said grippers to approach whereby the mouth of the bag is held open to receive said spout and to spread whereby the mouth of the bag is collapsed after said spout is withdrawn, an intermittent conveyor adaptedto engage the bag and maintain its mouth in collapsed condition after it has been filled, timed means for releasing said suspending means and actuating said conveyor to carry the filled bag away from said filling means, and a continuously moving conveyor adapted to receive said bag from said intermittent conveyor and to carry said bag through a plurality of stations with its mouth maintained in collapsed-condition for effecting a closure of said bag.

4. In combination, filling mechanism for delivering a predetermined quantity of material to an open-mouth bag, a continuously moving conveyor adapted to progress filled bags in upright position with their mouths maintained in collapsed condition properly to be closed, a plurality of devices located along said conveyor for stitching the mouths of said bags, applying tape to the stitched mouths in position to seal the mouths and stitch holes, and severing the stitches and tape extending from each bag, said devices operating during the continuous movement of the bags, a plurality of means located-adjacent said conveyor for controlling the operation of each of said devices, each of said means being actuated by a bag as it is continuously progressed by said conveyor, and an intermittently actuated, auxiliary conveyor interposed between said filling mechanism and said continuously moving conveyor to remove filled bags from said filling mechanism and to present said bags to said continuously moving conveyor, said filling mechanism ineluding means to collapse the mouths of the bags and said auxiliary conveyor including means to hold the mouths in collapsed condition while presenting the bags to said continuously moving conveyor.

-5. In a machine for filling and closing bags, a pair of grippers adapted to support a bag to be filled, a coveyor adapted to receive the filled bag, means for effecting closure of the bag mouth as it is progressed by said conveyor, a pair of belts extending from said grippers to said conveyor, said belts being normally separated to permit insertion of the mouth of said bag into said grippers,

and means for bringing said belts together to grip the mouth of a filled bag and advance it into said conveyor.

6. In a machine for filling and closing bags, a pair of grippers adapted to support a bag to be filled, a conveyor adapted to receive the filled bag, means for effecting a closure of the bag mouth as it is progressed by said conveyor, a pair of belts extending from said grippers to said conveyor, said belts being normally separated to permit insertion oi the mouth of said bag into said grippers, and means for bringing said belts together to grip the mouth of a filled bag and advance it into said conveyor, said means being actuated by insertion of said bag mouth into said grippers. I

'7. In combination, a pair of grippers adapted to receive and grip the upper and outer comers of an open-mouth bag, a filling spout located between said grippers, means for lowering the spout into the mouth of the gripped bag and means for moving said grippers together to permit the bag mouth to receive said spout.

8. In combination, a pair of grippers adapted to receive and grip the upper and outer corners oi an open mouth bag, means for biasing said grippers apart to hold the mouth of said bag in collapsed condition, a spout located between said grippersand adapted to enter the mouth of said bag, and means for moving said grippers toward each other to compensate for theinsertion of said spout in the mouth of the bag.

9. In combination, a pair of grippers adapted to receive and grip the upper and outer-corners of an open-mouth bag, a filling spout located between said grippers, means for changing the relative positions of said grippers and said spout to cause said spout to enter the mouth of the bag, and means for decreasing the distance from one of said grippers to the other to slacken the mouth of the bag sufliciently to accommodate said spout.

10. In combination, a pair of grippers adapted to receive the upper and outer corners of an openmouth bag, a filling spout located between said grippers, means for changing the relative positions of said grippers and said spout to cause said spout to enter the mouth of the bag, and means for decreasing the distance from one of said grippers to the other to slacken the mouth of the bag sufliciently to accommodate said spout, said means being actuated by insertion of the bag into said grippers.

11. In a bag filling and closing machine, in combination, a main conveyor comprising a pair of continuously driven belts having portions laterally adjacent to each other, a feeding conveyor comprising a pair of normallystationary belts meeting at one end adjacent to the intersection line of the belts comprising said main conveyor and normally separated at their other ends and automatic time-controlled mechanism for bringing the free ends of said feeding conveyor belts together to grip the mouth of a bag and causing said belts to operate at the speed of said main conveyor belts to carry said bag into said main conveyor.

12. In a bag filling and closing machine, in combination, a main conveyor comprising a pair of continuously driven belts having portions laterally adjacent to each other, a feeding conveyor comprising a pair of normally stationary belts meeting at one end adjacent to the intersection line of the belts comprising said main conveyor 

